Pouch case and secondary battery using the same

ABSTRACT

Provided are a pouch case and a secondary battery using the same. The pouch case includes a first receiving part and a second receiving part which are concavely formed; a sealing part formed along an outer portion of the pouch case so as to surround the first receiving part and the second receiving part; and a partitioning part formed between the first receiving part and the second receiving part and protruding from a bottom surface of each receiving part to partition the first receiving part and the second receiving part. As one side surface of the secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is received and packaged in the pouch case is formed in a plane form, a flat side surface is in close contact with a cooling plate, thereby maximizing cooling efficiency of the secondary battery.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2018-0072245, filed on Jun. 22, 2018, and No.10-2018-0153314 filed on Dec. 3, 2018, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following disclosure relates to a pouch case and a secondary batteryusing the same, and more particularly, to a pouch case that may improvecooling efficiency by allowing one side surface of the secondary batteryusing the pouch case to be in close contact with a cooling plate, andthe secondary battery using the same.

BACKGROUND

In general, a lithium secondary battery may be classified into a cantype secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is embedded in ametal can, and a pouch type secondary battery in which the electrodeassembly is embedded in a pouch case, which is an aluminum laminatesheet, depending on a shape of a case.

The lithium secondary battery is widely used not only for small mobiledevices but also for medium and large devices such as automobiles andpower storage devices. In this case, a plurality of pouch type secondarybatteries, which are easy to stack and light in weight, are connectedand used to increase capacity and output.

However, in the case in which a battery module is configured by stackingthe plurality of pouch type secondary batteries, since heat generatedfrom the plurality of secondary batteries is added up to quickly raise atemperature of the battery module, it is very important to ensure stableand effective cooling performance when the battery module is configuredby using the plurality of pouch type secondary batteries.

Therefore, as a cooling method having a simple structure while ensuringefficient cooling performance, a method of performing cooling by makinga side surface portion of the pouch type secondary battery to be indirect contact with a surface of a cooling plate has recently beenstudied, but it is difficult to make the side surface portion of thepouch type secondary battery be effectively in close contact with thecooling plate due to a limitation of a shape of the pouch case.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in U.S. Pat. No.8,501,343 entitled “pouch-type battery”, a pair of receiving parts areformed in a pouch case as one space while not being divided intoindependent spaces, but when the secondary battery is manufactured withthe pouch case of such a shape, a problem occurs in which the pouch caseis not folded or both ends of the side surface portion are dentedoutwardly during a process of folding the pouch case.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

U.S. Pat. No. 8,501,343 B2 (2013 Aug. 6)

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a pouchcase in which one side surface of the secondary battery is in closecontact with a cooling plate to maximize cooling efficiency by allowingone side surface of the secondary battery using the pouch case to have aperfect cooling structure, and the secondary battery using the same.

In one general aspect, a pouch case for receiving and packaging anelectrode assembly, includes: a first receiving part and a secondreceiving part which are concavely formed; a sealing part formed alongan outer portion of the pouch case so as to surround the first receivingpart and the second receiving part; and a partitioning part formedbetween the first receiving part and the second receiving part andprotruding from a bottom surface of each receiving part to partition thefirst receiving part and the second receiving part, wherein thepartitioning part includes: a first partitioning part having an upperend having a height lower than that of the sealing part and partitioningthe first receiving part and the second receiving part at a middle ofthe partitioning part; a second partitioning part having an uppersurface having the same height as that of the sealing part at both endsof the partitioning part; and a third partitioning part connecting thefirst partitioning part and the second partitioning part to each other.

The third partitioning part may be inclined toward the secondpartitioning part at an end portion of the first partitioning part in alength direction.

The third partitioning part may be connected to upper end portions ofthe second partitioning part and the first partitioning part in a roundform.

The first partitioning part may include a curved part having an upperend portion formed in a curved cross section.

The first partitioning part may further include a plane part connectingthe first receiving part and the second receiving part with the curvedpart in a linear form.

A length of a cross section of an upper side surface of the firstpartitioning part may be smaller than a sum of a depth of the firstreceiving part and a depth of the second receiving part.

In another general aspect, a secondary battery includes a pouch case andan electrode assembly, wherein the pouch case includes: a firstreceiving part and a second receiving part which are concavely formed; asealing part formed along an outer portion of the pouch case so as tosurround the first receiving part and the second receiving part; and apartitioning part formed between the first receiving part and the secondreceiving part and protruding from a bottom surface of each receivingpart to partition the first receiving part and the second receivingpart, wherein the partitioning part includes: a first partitioning parthaving an upper end having a height lower than that of the sealing partand partitioning the first receiving part and the second receiving partat a middle of the partitioning part; a second partitioning part havingan upper surface having the same height as that of the sealing part atboth ends of the partitioning part; and a third partitioning partconnecting the first partitioning part and the second partitioning partto each other, and the electrode assembly is received and packaged in areceiving space formed by folding the partitioning part so that thefirst receiving part and the second receiving part of the pouch caseface each other.

The first partitioning part may be unfolded and may be formed as a sidesurface part of a plane form, and the sealing part may include extendingparts protruding in a direction perpendicular to the side surface partof the secondary battery at portions adjacent to both ends of the sidesurface part of the secondary battery.

A sum of a depth of the first receiving part and a depth of the secondreceiving part of the pouch case may be equal to a thickness of theelectrode assembly.

The first partitioning part may be unfolded and may be formed as a sidesurface part of a plane form, and dimples of a concave form may beformed at both ends of the side surface part.

In another general aspect, a secondary battery pack includes: one ormore secondary batteries; and a cooling plate including a surface whichis in surface contact with side surface parts of the secondarybatteries.

The sealing part may include extending parts protruding in a directionperpendicular to the side surface parts of the secondary batteries atportions adjacent to both ends of the side surface parts of thesecondary batteries.

A width between a first side surface and a second side surface of thecooling plate may correspond to a length between the extending parts ofthe secondary batteries.

A width between a first side surface and a second side surface of thecooling plate may be greater than a length between the extending partsof the secondary batteries.

Each of the first side surface and the second side surface of thecooling plate may be formed with a step at a height which is greaterthan or equal to a length of the extending parts of the secondarybatteries.

Each of the first side surface and the second side surface of thecooling plate may be formed with one or more grooves at a depth which isgreater than or equal to a length of the extending parts so as toreceive the extending parts of the secondary batteries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a secondary batteryincluding an electrode assembly and a pouch case according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an upper plan view of the pouch case according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C′ of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a secondary batteryaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an assembled perspective view illustrating the secondarybattery including the electrode assembly and the pouch case according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a photograph illustrating a portion in which an extending partand a dimple are formed in the secondary battery according to thepresent invention and a photograph comparing a conventional secondarybattery in which a height of a partitioning part is formed to be equalto a depth of a receiving part.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a first example in which a secondarybattery pack is configured by coupling a secondary battery and a coolingplate according to the present invention to each other.

FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view illustrating a state in which thesecondary battery and the cooling plate are coupled to each other inFIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a second example in which a secondarybattery pack is configured by coupling a secondary battery and a coolingplate according to the present invention to each other.

FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view illustrating a state in which thesecondary battery and the cooling plate are coupled to each other inFIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a third example in which a secondarybattery pack is configured by coupling a secondary battery and a coolingplate according to the present invention to each other.

FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged view illustrating a state in which thesecondary battery and the cooling plate are coupled to each other inFIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. The following detaileddescription is merely exemplary and is merely illustrative ofembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a secondary batteryincluding an electrode assembly and a pouch case according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a secondary battery 300 according to the presentinvention may include a pouch case 100 and an electrode assembly 200including a plurality of electrode bodies stacked with a separatorinterposed therebetween. Here, the pouch case 100 is sealed and packagedwith a sealing part 150 which receives and surrounds the electrodeassembly 200 and is in contact with the electrode assembly 200.

A first electrode tab 220 and a second electrode tab 230 may be formedon both ends of the electrode assembly 200, and in FIG. 1, although theelectrode tabs are formed in the form that protrudes from both sidesurfaces of the electrode assembly 200 in a horizontal direction, thesecondary battery 300 according to the present invention does not limita configuration of the electrode tabs thereto, and the first electrodetab 220 and the second electrode tab 230 may also be simultaneouslydisposed on any one side surface of the sealing part 150.

FIG. 2 is an upper plan view of the pouch case according to anembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional viewtaken along line A-A′ of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view takenalong line B-B′ of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view takenalong line C-C′ of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the pouch case 100 according to an embodimentof the present invention may include a first receiving part 110 and asecond receiving part 120 which are formed to receive the electrodeassembly 200, the sealing part 150 formed along an outer portion of thepouch case 100 so as to surround the first receiving part 110 and thesecond receiving part 120, a first partitioning part 130 that protrudesupwardly from a bottom surface forming the first receiving part 110 andthe second receiving part 120, that is, convexly from the bottom surfacetoward the inside of the first receiving part 110 and the secondreceiving part 120, has an upper end formed at a height lower than thatof the sealing part 150, and partitions the first receiving part 110 andthe second receiving part 120 at a predetermined interval, a secondpartitioning part 141 protruding from a side surface connected to thesealing part 150 and the bottom surface connected to the side surface,and a third partitioning part 142 connecting the first partitioning part130 and the second partitioning part 141 to each other.

One first receiving part 110 and one second receiving part 120 forreceiving the electrode assembly 200 may be formed in the pouch case100. The first receiving part 110 and the second receiving part 120 areformed in a shape which is concavely recessed downwardly in a heightdirection of the pouch case 100 formed in a flat plate shape, and may beformed by pressing the inside of the pouch case 100 by pressing or thelike. Here, each of the first receiving part 110 and the secondreceiving part 120 has a size corresponding to a width and a length ofthe electrode assembly 200, and a sum of depths of the first receivingpart 110 and the second receiving part 120 may be formed to correspondto a thickness of the electrode assembly 200. In this case, the depthsof the first receiving part 110 and the second receiving part 120 may bea linear distance from an upper surface of the sealing part 150 to thebottom surface of each of the first receiving part 110 and the secondreceiving part 120, and the depth of the first receiving part 110 may beuniformly formed in both the width direction and the length directionand the depth of the second receiving part 120 may also be uniformlyformed in both the width direction and the length direction. Inaddition, although FIG. 1 illustrates that the depth of the firstreceiving part 110 and the depth of the second receiving part 120 areequal to each other, the depth of the first receiving part 110 and thedepth of the second receiving part 120 may be different from each other.

The sealing part 150 refers to a portion that is not pressed and remainswhen the first receiving part 110 and the second receiving part 120 areformed by pressing the inside of the pouch case 100 formed in the flatplate shape by pressing or the like. That is, a portion formed along theouter portion of the pouch case 100 to surround the first receiving part110 and the second receiving part 120 may be the sealing part 150.

The first partitioning part 130 is a portion that convexly protrudesupwardly in the height direction from the bottom surface between thefirst receiving part 110 and the second receiving part 120, and extendsalong the length direction to partition the first receiving part 110 andthe second receiving part 120 in the width direction. Here, by pressingthe pouch case in a state in which a convex portion corresponding to thefirst partitioning part 130 is formed in a lower mold when the firstreceiving part 110 and the second receiving part 120 are formed bypressing the inside of the pouch case 100 formed in the flat plate shapeby pressing or the like, the first partitioning part 130 may be formedin a concave form on an outer side of the first receiving part 110 andthe second receiving part 120 and may be formed in a convex form on aninner side thereof. In this case, an upper end of the first partitioningpart 130 may have a height lower than that of the sealing part 150, andboth ends of the first partitioning part 130 in the length direction maybe formed up to positions spaced apart from both side surfaces of thefirst receiving part 110 and the second receiving part 120 in the lengthdirection by a predetermined distance.

The second partitioning part 141 is a component for allowing both endsof a side surface part 310 of a secondary battery 300 in the lengthdirection to be easily folded without being distorted when the sealingpart 150 is folded to allow the first receiving part 110 and the secondreceiving part 120 to face each other so that the pouch case 100 forms areceiving space for receiving the electrode assembly 200. The secondpartitioning part 141 may protrude from both side surfaces of the firstreceiving part 110 and the second receiving part 120 in the lengthdirection and a bottom surface portion connected to both side surfacesin the length direction, and may have an upper surface formed at thesame height as that of the sealing part 150. Here, the secondpartitioning part 141 may be concave on the outer side of the firstreceiving part 110 and the second receiving part 120 and may be convexon the inner side thereof by pressing or the like in the manner similarto the first partitioning part 130. In addition, although it isillustrated that the second partitioning part 141 has a width greaterthan that of the sealing part 150, the second partitioning part 141 isnot limited thereto, and it is possible to adjust the width of thesecond partitioning part 141 according to a thickness T and a shape ofthe electrode assembly 200 or according to a material of the pouch case100.

The third partitioning part 142 is a portion that connects both endportions of the first partitioning part 130 in the length direction andthe second partitioning part 141 to each other in a gentle form. Thethird partitioning part 142 may be concave on the outer side of thefirst receiving part 110 and the second receiving part 120 and may beconvex on the inner side thereof by pressing or the like in the mannersimilar to the first partitioning part 130 and the second partitioningpart 141, and the first partitioning part 130, the third partitioningpart 142, and the second partitioning part 141 may be integrally formedto be connected to each other by pressing the pouch case in a state inwhich a convex portion is formed in the lower mold so as to correspondto the forms of the first partitioning part 130, the third partitioningpart 142, and the second partitioning part 141. In this case, the thirdpartitioning part 142 may be inclined upwardly from an upper end portionof the first partitioning part 130 in the length direction to an upperend portion of the second partitioning part 141 so that the upper endportion of the first partitioning part 130 and the upper end portion ofthe second partitioning part 141 are naturally connected to each other.In addition, a portion at which the third partitioning part 142 isconnected to the upper end portion of the first partitioning part 130and a portion at which the third partitioning part 142 is connected tothe upper end portion of the second partitioning part 141 may be formedin a round form having a predetermined radius of curvature. In addition,both side surfaces of the third partitioning part 142 in the widthdirection may also be inclined from a side surface of an end portion ofthe first partitioning part 130 in the length direction to the sidesurface of the second partitioning part 141, and a connected portion maybe formed in a round form.

As such, the second partitioning part 141, the third partitioning part142, and the first partitioning part 130 are formed so as to be gentlyconnected without having a discontinuous slope, thereby making itpossible to obtain an effect of preventing the second partitioning part141 and the third partitioning part 142 positioned on the side surfacepart 310 of the secondary battery 300 from being damaged or torn whenthe pouch case 100 is folded.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the first partitioning part 130 is a component forseparating the first receiving part 110 and the second receiving part120 from each other at a predetermined interval and connecting them toeach other, and extends bottom surfaces of the first receiving part 110and the second receiving part 120 and connects the bottom surfaces toeach other. Here, one side of the first partitioning part 130 isconnected to the bottom surface of the first receiving part 110, and theother side of the first partitioning part 130 is connected to the bottomsurface of the second receiving part 120. In addition, the upper end ofthe first partitioning part 130 may have a height lower than that of thesealing part 150, and the first receiving part 110 and the secondreceiving part 120 are partitioned by the first partitioning part 130.In addition, as shown, the first partitioning part 130 may have a planepart 132 which is upwardly extended in a linear form from the bottomsurface of the first receiving part 110, a plane part 132 which isupwardly extended in a linear form from the bottom surface of the secondreceiving part 120, and a curved part 131 formed in a semi-circular formon an upper end of a pair of plane parts 132.

Thereby, when the secondary battery 300 is manufactured using the pouchcase 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, thepouch case 100 may be packaged to receive the electrode assembly 200 inthe receiving space formed by folding the first receiving part 110 andthe second receiving part 120 along a center line of the firstpartitioning part 130 so as to face each other and to then seal theoverlapped sealing part 150. Here, the first partitioning part 130 maybe supported and unfolded by the electrode assembly 200 received in thereceiving space when the pouch case 100 is folded.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a secondary batteryaccording to an embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 8 is anassembled perspective view illustrating the secondary battery includingthe electrode assembly and the pouch case according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the first partitioning part 130 may beunfolded in a state in which the secondary battery 300 is assembled andmay be formed as the side surface part 310 of a flat plane form. Inaddition, a phenomenon in which the sealing parts 150 positioned on bothends of the side surface part 310 of the secondary battery 300 in thelength direction are not folded or are dented after the secondarybattery 300 is manufactured may be prevented.

In addition, a length of a cross section of an upper side surface of thefirst partitioning part 130 may be smaller than a sum of a depth A1 ofthe first receiving part 110 and a depth A2 of the second receiving part120.

Here, the upper side surface of the first partitioning part 130 may be asurface toward the first receiving part 110 and the second receivingpart 120, and referring to FIG. 6, the length of the cross section ofthe upper side surface of the first partitioning part 130 may be a sumB1+B2+B3 of a length B1+B2 of the pair of plane parts 132 and a lengthB3 of the curved part 131.

Therefore, the length of the cross section of the upper side surface ofthe first partitioning part 130 may be formed to be A1+A2>B1+B2+B3. Inaddition, the sum A1+A2 of the depth A1 of the first receiving part andthe depth A2 of the second receiving part may be equal to the thicknessT of the electrode assembly, i.e., A1+A2=T. In this case, the sum A1+A2of the depth A1 of the first receiving part and the depth A2 of thesecond receiving part may be slightly smaller or greater than thethickness T of the electrode assembly depending on the material or shapeof the pouch case 100.

Therefore, since the first partitioning part 130 is pulled while beingunfolded when the pouch case 100 is folded so that the electrodeassembly 200 is received in the receiving space of the pouch case 100when the secondary battery 300 is manufactured using the pouch case 100according to an embodiment of the present invention, the firstpartitioning part 130 which becomes the side surface part 310 of thesecondary battery 300 after manufacturing the secondary battery 300 maybe formed as the side surface part 310 of a plane form in a state inwhich the secondary battery 300 is assembled.

Here, the height of the first partitioning part 130 may be lower thanthe depths of the first receiving part 110 and the second receiving part120, and may be ½ or more of the depths of the first receiving part 110and the second receiving part 120. In addition, the height of the firstpartitioning part 130 may be preferably ⅔ or more, and more preferably ⅘or more of the depths of the first receiving part 110 and the secondreceiving part 120. That is, when the height of the first partitioningpart 130 satisfies the above-mentioned conditions, the shape of thefirst partitioning part 130 does not appear on the side surface part 310of the secondary battery and the side surface part may be formed to beflat. In addition, since it is possible to prevent stress condensationon a folded side surface of the pouch case of the folded side surface,productivity, cooling efficiency and energy density of the secondarybattery may all be increased.

In addition, the secondary battery 300 using the pouch case 100according to the present invention may include the pouch case 100according to the present invention and the electrode assembly 200, andthe pouch case 100 is sealed along the sealing part 150 after theelectrode assembly 200 is received in the receiving space formed byfolding the sealing part 150 so that the first receiving part 110 andthe second receiving part 120 face each other.

As shown, the first partitioning part 130 of the pouch case 100uniformly forms the side surface part 310 of the secondary battery 300,and dimples 320 which are concave toward the inside of the secondarybattery 300 may be formed at positions corresponding to the secondpartitioning part 141 and the third partitioning part 142 of both endsof the side surface part 310 of the secondary battery 300 in the lengthdirection.

FIG. 9 is a photograph illustrating a portion in which an extending partand a dimple are formed in the secondary battery according to thepresent invention and a photograph comparing a conventional secondarybattery in which a height of a partitioning part is formed to be equalto a depth of a receiving part.

Referring to the photograph of FIG. 9, it may be seen that the secondarybattery according to the present invention has the side surface partthat does not have a concavely depressed portion as in an upper figureand has an end portion of the side surface part on which the dimple of aconcave form is formed. On the other hand, the conventional secondarybattery may have a concavely depressed portion which is present alongthe side surface part as in a lower figure.

The dimple 320 serves to guide the sealing parts 150 of both ends of theside surface part 310 when the pouch case 100 is folded, so that thesealing parts 150 may be easily folded, and the size and shape may bevarious according to the height or the width of the second partitioningpart 141 which is appropriately adjusted according to the thickness Tand the shape of the electrode assembly 200 or according to the materialof the pouch case 100.

As shown, the secondary battery 300 using the pouch case 100 accordingto the present invention is characterized in that the side surface part310 is not concavely recessed or does not protrude as a whole and has aflat and uniform form. Thereby, the secondary battery 300 according tothe present invention may have high heat radiation efficiency with lowthermal resistance because the side surface part 310 may be perfectly inclose contact with the cooling plate 500 when the side surface part 310is in contact with the cooling plate 500 to cool the side surface part310.

In addition to this, since the side surface part 310 of the secondarybattery 300 according to the present invention does not protrude and isuniformly formed, the side surface part 310 has a fold outwardly formedthereon or has a separating sealing portion. As a result, since the sidesurface part 310 occupies a smaller space for the same battery capacitythan when the side surface part 310 protrudes, the secondary battery 300according to the present invention may have high energy density.

In addition, the sealing parts 150 positioned at portions adjacent toboth end portions of the side surface part 310 of the secondary battery300 may include extending parts 151 protruding in a directionperpendicular to the side surface part 310 of the secondary battery 300by a predetermined length in a process of folding the sealing parts 150for packaging. Accordingly, a space may be formed between the extendingpart 151 and the side surface part 310 by a length L of the extendingpart 151.

The extending part 151 formed as described above may serve to maintainor fix an arrangement of the secondary battery 300 to the cooling plate500 by forming a groove 520 or a step 510 capable of receiving theextending part 151 in a side surface of the cooling plate 500, when thesecondary battery 300 according to the present invention and the coolingplate 500 are coupled to each other to manufacture a secondary batterypack.

FIGS. 10 to 18 are views illustrating first to third examples in whichthe secondary battery 300 according to the present invention and thecooling plate 500 are coupled to each other to configure the secondarybattery pack.

First, FIGS. 10 to 12 are a view illustrating a first example of thesecondary battery pack according to the present invention and enlargeddetailed views thereof.

Referring to FIG. 10, a plurality of secondary batteries 300 accordingto the present invention may be disposed on the cooling plate 500 toconfigure the secondary battery pack. Here, the cooling plate 500includes a first side surface, a second side surface opposing the firstside surface, and an upper surface with which the side surface parts 310of one or more secondary batteries 300 are in surface-contact.

According to the first example of the secondary battery pack shown inFIG. 10, a width between the first side surface and the second sidesurface of the cooling plate 500 may correspond to a length between theextending parts 151 of the secondary batteries 300. Referring to FIGS.11 and 12, in this case, when the upper surface of the cooling plate 500is in close contact with the side surface parts 310 of the secondarybatteries 300, the cooling plate 500 may be inserted between theextending parts 151 of the secondary batteries 300.

By such a structure, the secondary battery 300 is limited from moving inthe length direction of the secondary battery 300 to prevent a positionthereof from being separated from the cooling plate 500, and thearrangement between the secondary battery 300 and the cooling plate 500may be maintained.

FIGS. 13 to 15 are a view illustrating a second example of the secondarybattery pack according to the present invention and enlarged detailedviews thereof.

According to the second example of the secondary battery pack shown inFIG. 13, a width between the first side surface and the second sidesurface of the cooling plate 500 may be greater than a length betweenthe extending parts 151 of the secondary batteries 300, and each of thefirst side surface and the second side surface of the cooling plate 500may be formed with a step 510 at a height which is greater than or equalto a predetermined protruded length of the extending part 151 of thesecondary battery 300. Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, when the uppersurface of the cooling plate 500 is in close contact with the sidesurface parts 310 of the secondary batteries 300, the extending parts151 of the secondary batteries 300 may be placed on a step portionformed on the cooling plate 500.

By such a structure, the secondary battery 300 is limited from moving inthe length direction of the secondary battery 300 to prevent a positionthereof from being separated from the cooling plate 500, and thearrangement between the secondary battery 300 and the cooling plate 500may be maintained. In addition to this, a width of the cooling plate 500of the secondary batter pack according to the second example is moreextended than the width of the cooling plate 500 according to the firstexample, thereby further increasing the cooling efficiency.

FIGS. 16 to 18 are a view illustrating a third example of the secondarybattery pack according to the present invention and enlarged detailedviews thereof.

According to the third example of the secondary battery pack shown inFIG. 16, a width between the first side surface and the second sidesurface of the cooling plate 500 may be greater than a length betweenthe extending parts 151 of the secondary batteries 300, and each of thefirst side surface and the second side surface of the cooling plate 500may be formed with one or more grooves 520 at a depth which is greaterthan or equal to a predetermined length of the extending part 151 so asto receive the extending parts 151 of the secondary batteries 300.Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, when the upper surface of the coolingplate 500 is in close contact with the side surface parts 310 of thesecondary batteries 300, the extending parts 151 of the secondarybatteries 300 may be received in the grooves 520 formed in the coolingplate 500.

By such a structure, the secondary battery 300 is limited from moving inthe length direction of the secondary battery 300 and a directionperpendicular thereto to prevent a position thereof from being separatedfrom the cooling plate 500, and the arrangement between the secondarybattery 300 and the cooling plate 500 may be maintained. In addition tothis, a width of the cooling plate 500 of the secondary batter packaccording to the third example is more extended than the width of thecooling plate 500 according to the first example, thereby furtherincreasing the cooling efficiency.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 18, in the secondary battery pack according tothe present invention, the side surface part 310 of each of theplurality of secondary batteries 300 disposed on the cooling plate 500may be disposed to be in close contact with the cooling plate 500 toperform heat radiation of the secondary batteries 300, and by theextending parts 151 protruding from the side surface parts 310 of thesecondary batteries 300 by the predetermined length, the secondarybatteries 300 may be limited from moving in the length direction of thesecondary batteries 300 with respect to the cooling plate 500 to preventthe positions thereof from being separated from the cooling plate 500,and the arrangement between the secondary battery 300 and the coolingplate 500 may be maintained.

In the pouch case and the secondary battery using the same according tothe present invention, one side surface of the secondary battery may bein close contact with the cooling plate to maximize the coolingefficiency by allowing one side surface of the secondary battery to havethe perfect cooling structure.

Hereinabove, while the present invention has been described and shownwith reference to the embodiments for illustrating the principle of thepresent invention, the present invention is not limited to the shown anddescribed configurations and actions. It will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essentialcharacteristics thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that theembodiments described hereinabove are illustrative rather than beingrestrictive in all aspects. It is to be understood that the scope of thepresent invention will be defined by the claims, and all modificationsand alternations derived from the claims and their equivalents areincluded in the scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ELEMENTS

100: pouch case 110: first receiving part 120: second receiving part130: first partitioning part 131: curved part 132: plane part 141:second partitioning part 142: third partitioning part 150: sealing part151: extending part L: length of extending part 200: electrode assembly220: first electrode tab 230: second electrode tab 300: secondarybattery 310: side surface part 320: dimple 500: cooling plate 510: step520: groove

What is claimed is:
 1. A pouch case for receiving and packaging anelectrode assembly, the pouch case comprising: a first receiving partand a second receiving part which are concavely formed; a sealing partformed along an outer portion of the pouch case so as to surround thefirst receiving part and the second receiving part; and a partitioningpart formed between the first receiving part and the second receivingpart and protruding from a bottom surface of each receiving part topartition the first receiving part and the second receiving part,wherein the partitioning part includes: a first partitioning part havingan upper end having a height lower than that of the sealing part andpartitioning the first receiving part and the second receiving part at amiddle of the partitioning part; a second partitioning part having anupper surface having the same height as that of the sealing part at bothends of the partitioning part; and a third partitioning part connectingthe first partitioning part and the second partitioning part to eachother.
 2. The pouch case of claim 1, wherein the third partitioning partis inclined toward the second partitioning part at an end portion of thefirst partitioning part in a length direction.
 3. The pouch case ofclaim 2, wherein the third partitioning part is connected to upper endportions of the second partitioning part and the first partitioning partin a round form.
 4. The pouch case of claim 1, wherein the firstpartitioning part includes a curved part having an upper end portionformed in a curved cross section.
 5. The pouch case of claim 4, whereinthe first partitioning part further includes a plane part connecting thefirst receiving part and the second receiving part with the curved partin a linear form.
 6. The pouch case of claim 5, wherein a length of across section of an upper side surface of the first partitioning part issmaller than a sum of a depth of the first receiving part and a depth ofthe second receiving part.
 7. A secondary battery including a pouch caseand an electrode assembly, wherein the pouch case includes: a firstreceiving part and a second receiving part which are concavely formed; asealing part formed along an outer portion of the pouch case so as tosurround the first receiving part and the second receiving part; and apartitioning part formed between the first receiving part and the secondreceiving part and protruding from a bottom surface of each receivingpart to partition the first receiving part and the second receivingpart, wherein the partitioning part includes: a first partitioning parthaving an upper end having a height lower than that of the sealing partand partitioning the first receiving part and the second receiving partat a middle of the partitioning part; a second partitioning part havingan upper surface having the same height as that of the sealing part atboth ends of the partitioning part; and a third partitioning partconnecting the first partitioning part and the second partitioning partto each other, and the electrode assembly is received and packaged in areceiving space formed by folding the partitioning part so that thefirst receiving part and the second receiving part of the pouch caseface each other.
 8. The secondary battery of claim 7, wherein the firstpartitioning part is unfolded and is formed as a side surface part of aplane form, and the sealing part includes extending parts protruding ina direction perpendicular to the side surface part of the secondarybattery at portions adjacent to both ends of the side surface part ofthe secondary battery.
 9. The secondary battery of claim 7, wherein asum of a depth of the first receiving part and a depth of the secondreceiving part of the pouch case is equal to a thickness of theelectrode assembly.
 10. The secondary battery of claim 7, wherein thefirst partitioning part is unfolded and is formed as a side surface partof a plane form, and dimples of a concave form are formed at both endsof the side surface part.
 11. A secondary battery pack comprising: oneor more secondary batteries of claim 8; and a cooling plate including asurface which is in surface contact with side surface parts of thesecondary batteries.
 12. The secondary battery pack of claim 11, whereinthe sealing part includes extending parts protruding in a directionperpendicular to the side surface parts of the secondary batteries atportions adjacent to both ends of the side surface parts of thesecondary batteries.
 13. The secondary battery pack of claim 12, whereina width between a first side surface and a second side surface of thecooling plate corresponds to a length between the extending parts of thesecondary batteries.
 14. The secondary battery pack of claim 12, whereina width between a first side surface and a second side surface of thecooling plate is greater than a length between the extending parts ofthe secondary batteries.
 15. The secondary battery pack of claim 14,wherein each of the first side surface and the second side surface ofthe cooling plate is formed with a step at a height which is greaterthan or equal to a length of the extending parts of the secondarybatteries.
 16. The secondary battery pack of claim 14, wherein each ofthe first side surface and the second side surface of the cooling plateis formed with one or more grooves at a depth which is greater than orequal to a length of the extending parts so as to receive the extendingparts of the secondary batteries.